Closing Jamaica's Literacy Gap: Harnessing Technology to Improve Learning Outcomes

André Coy is a senior lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of the West Indies, Mona,
where he also serves as Associate Dean for External Engagement.
With over 20 years of experience in the field of Speech and Language Technologies (SLT), Dr. Coy has
dedicated his career, through teaching and research, to the education of the next generation of experts
in Signal Processing and related areas.
Dr. Coy Received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Sheffield in 2008. Prior to coming
to the University of the West Indies, he worked as a Research Associate, jointly, with the University of
Sheffield and Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and as a post-doctoral Fellow at McGill University.
Though his work cuts across disciplines and includes signal processing applications in agriculture,
climate, education, health and assistive technologies. Dr. Coy has a passion for spoken language
technology (SLT) and its applications. His other interests include audio signal processing, artificial
intelligence and machine learning.
Dr. Coy’s recent research activity is focused on developing applications of SLT to address issues, such as
illiteracy and the exclusion of marginalised groups, including the visually impaired and Deaf. This effort
engenders a cross-disciplinary approach, encompassing work in many areas, including SLT, computer
vision, human-computer interaction, natural language processing, intelligent learning environments,
reading instruction and assistive technologies.
Dr. Coy is a staunch advocate for STEM Education and works with various organisations and groups to
promote education, broadly, and more specifically, the use of STEM as a developmental tool. Dr. Coy
collaborates with the local Ministry of Education, the regional examination body, CXC, and the Jamaica
STEM for Growth Foundation.